Bath support



May 8, 1923- 1,454,112

R. GRAVES BATH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 15. 1922 www AfA w ,a

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REBECCA GRAVES, or sPoxANE, wAsHmq'roN.

BATH SUPPORT.

Application led December 15, 1922. Serial No. 607,223.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, REBECCA GRAVES, a citizen of the United States,4residing at Spokane, in Spokane County, and State of `Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath Supports, of whichthe following is a specificatlon.

My resent invention relates to improvements 1n bath supports which,while -not designed for exclusive use in bathing infants or children, isespecially adapted for this purpose. The primary object of the inventionis the provision of abath appliancein which the person may be supportedwithin' the bath tub with the support or appliance partially submergedin the water contained in the tub, or the support maybe suspended abovethe water line in the tub. T his support is of fiexible material andfashioned in such manner as to be suspended from the` opposite top edgesof the bath tub andform a partial enclosure for the protection andsupport of the infant. Adjustable suspending means are employed whichmay be manipulated I l the conformation or shape of the support and thusadapt it to accommodate the childor infant in various positions: By'manipulating the adjust-able suspending devicesthe shape'of differentportions of the. flexible support may be changed, one portion may beelevated above another portion, portions `forming the side walls of thesupport maybe given a selected depth. In this manner the head portion ofthe support may be elevated, while the foot portion is permitted to sagand form' a pocket of greater depth than the head portion for theaccomodation ofan infant in a yreclining position, onthe differentportions of the support maybe adjusted to position to sup- `port theinfant in a sitting posture.

These different formations and adjustments of the shape of the supportare pos- 'sible because of the specific construction' of the flexiblesupport, and its adjustable susiiding means, as'will be hereinafter morelly pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention wherein the arts are fashionedand combined according to one mode I have thus far devised for thepractical application 'of the principlesl of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the for the purpose of changingandthose I device of the invention supported within a bath tub, in positionfor use. f

Figure 2 is a vertical, Alongitudinal sectional view at line 2 2 ofFigure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vdetail view of the foot portion of the flexiblesupport showing a portioiof a screen for a drain opening, and alsoillustrating a pair of laced plaekets 1n the body ofthe support wherebyan enlarged, deeper portion or pocket may be formed atV the foot of thesupport.

.Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the tubillustrating'one of the sus ending hooks and suspending or adjustinguckle. J In order that the invention and its utility maybe readilyuuderstoodI have illustrated a conventional form of bath tub 1 havingthe usual curled or curved top edges 2.

' The bath support, as a whale is designated by the numeral 3, and ismade up or fashioned from suitable textile fabric, or other flexiblematerial suitable for the purpose, which may or may not be waterproof,as desired, but is preferably of approximate rectangular form. The endsof the support are designated as the head portion 4 and foot .portion 5,and it is intended that the infant when being bathed, shall be placed inthe support, as for instance to lie with its head inthe head portion 4:at the left end in Figures 1 and 2 and its feet in the foot por tion 5at the right end of the support.

Reinforcing edge strips or binding tapes 6 are secured around the edgesof the support, and at suitable intervals along the bp-.4,

posite parallel edges of the support arefattached suspending straps'7.In Figure 1 it will be seen that the straps are arranged in pairs atopposite edges of the support in order that they may co-operate insupporting theV .device in adjusted position. Each suspending strap isprovidedk with an adjust ing buckle 8 for lengthening or shortening thesuspending strap, and a suspending hook 9 is attached at the end of eachstrap ingthe pair of Straps 7 in igure 1 a ridge 8', extendingtransversely of the support, is

formed at its inner or upper side, to accomthis position, not only isbetter accoininodation provided for the infant, but water accumulatingin the support may readily run down the bottom of the support and drainthrough a gauze or perforate screen l0 in the bottom of the support.This drain screen may be of porous fabric 'or other suitable materialand is inserted in an opening provided therefor in the support with itsedges securely stitched to the support for retention therein.

The foot portion 5 of the support is provided with a pair of plackets 11and 12, spaced apart as shown and en tending outwardly from the drainopening 1n the bottom of the support to the edge of the support. Theplackets radiate from the longitudinal center of the support, ondiagonal lines, and their edges are provided with binding tapes 13having eyelets or eyes 14 for-the lacing strings 15. y

The plackets are closed' or filled with V- shape pieces or darts 16folded or pleated on converging lines complementary tothe edges of theplackets, as seen in Figure 1, while in Figure 3 the lacing strings 15appear on the under or outer sides of these pleats. It will be obviousthat the lacings strings may be used as draw strings to close theplackets and fold the pleated portions 16 to reduce the circumferentialarea of the foot portion or end 0f the support and fashion this end ofthe support as a pocket to prevent a child from falling out at this end.The suspending straps at the foot portion of the support are alsoadjustable for the purpose of lowering or elevating' the foot portion ofthe support, as desired.

In the position of the support indicated in Figure 2 it is adapted toaccommodate an inant in the same manner that the infant lies in themothers lap or is held in the mothers arms, for bathing. The ridge 8formed transversely of the support by drawing on the straps 7 fitsneatly under the infants neck and the head is supported in the headportion 4, to take the weight oilv the childs neck. As the child growsstronger and is enabled to more nearly support itself, the

relative positions of the head and foot portions of the support arechanged, the former being elevated withl relation to the latter, toaccommodate the child, and forni a protective support.v

The size of the support is ofcourse varied, and larger supports areadapted vfor adults to be used in hospitals for the accommodation ofpatients, or in the home for the benelit of invalids requiring personalattention.

It will be apparent that the support may be maintained in a sanitarycondition by laundering and may be quickly and readily dried after useIt may with facility be suspended from the sides of the bath tub, orsuspended from other suitable support when required, and with equalconvenience the hooks may be disengaged from the tub sides y and thesupport removed when not required for use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is l. A bath support of flexible materialhaving separately adjustable suspending means attached at oppositeledges thereof and arranged in pairs, said support having a foot portionformed with a drain, and plackets extending from its center to its edge,pleats -in said plackets, and means for closing or partially closingsaid plackets.

Q. -A bath support of flexible material having suspending means, saidsupport having plackets radiating from its longitudinal center to itsedge, pleats in said plackets, and a lacing string in said plackets.

3; A bath support of flexible material. having separately adjustablesuspending means attachedat opposite edges and arranged in'pairs, aperforate piece set in the bottom of said supportas a drain, placketsradiating from said drain to the edge of the support and provided witheyelets, lacing strings in the eyelets, and pleats secured in saidplackets.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

REBECCA GRAVES.

